vpncloud/README.md

VpnCloud - Peer-to-Peer VPN
---------------------------

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**VpnCloud** is a simple VPN over UDP. It creates a virtual network interface on
the host and forwards all received data via UDP to the destination. VpnCloud
establishes a fully-meshed VPN network in a peer-to-peer manner. It can work
on TUN devices (IP based) and TAP devices (Ethernet based). Tunneling traffic
between two nodes can be as easy as:

       $> vpncloud -c REMOTE_HOST:PORT --ifup 'ifconfig $IFNAME 10.0.0.1/24 mtu 1400 up'

For more information, please see the [Website](https://vpncloud.ddswd.de).


### Project Status
This project is still [under development](CHANGELOG.md) but has reached a
somewhat stable state. VpnCloud features the following functionality:

* Setting up tunnels between two networks via Ethernet (TAP) and IP (TUN)
* Connecting multiple networks with multiple forwarding behaviors (Hub, Switch,
  Router)
* Encrypted connections
* Automatic peer-to-peer meshing, no central servers
* NAT and (limited) firewall traversal using hole punching
* Automatic reconnecting when connections are lost
* Non-native forwarding modes, e.g. IP based learning switch and prefix routed
  Ethernet networks.
* High throughput and low additional latency (see [performance page](https://vpncloud.ddswd.de/features/performance))
* Support for tunneled VLans (TAP device)
* Option to hide protocol header
* Automatic port forwarding via UPnP


### Installing

#### Compiling from source
Prerequisites: Git, [Cargo](https://www.rust-lang.org/install.html), Ronn

The checked-out code can be compiled with ``cargo build`` or ``cargo build --release`` (release version). The binary could then be found in `target/release/vpncloud`.

The tests can be run via ``cargo test``.


#### Cross-Compiling
This software can be cross-compiled for a number of different architectures. 
Please also see the [extended rust cross compilation docs](https://github.com/japaric/rust-cross).

##### ARMv7 (e.g. Raspberry Pi)
1. Install the Cargo target

       $> rustup target add armv7-unknown-linux-gnueabihf

2. Install the required build environment (on Ubuntu)

       $> sudo apt-get install -qq gcc-arm-linux-gnueabihf

3. Build the software

       $> cargo build --release --target=armv7-unknown-linux-gnueabihf

#### Debian / Ubuntu
Deb packages for each release can be found in the
[releases](https://github.com/dswd/vpncloud/releases) section. Currently only
packages for amd64 are available (I am accepting help on building and packaging
for other platforms).

Debian packages can be built using [cargo-deb](https://github.com/mmstick/cargo-deb): ``cargo deb``


#### Arch Linux (AUR)
There is a [VpnCloud package for Arch Linux](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/vpncloud/)
thanks to Oscar Rainford (fourbytes).

#### CentOS 7 (maybe other RPM based)
CentOS 7 .rpm package can be built using [cargo-rpm](https://github.com/RustRPM/cargo-rpm): ``cargo rpm``
On an CentOS 7:

1. Install the required build environment (on CentOS 7)

       $> yum groupinstall -y 'Development Tools'
 
2. Build the software

       $> cargo rpm build
       
rpm will be situated in `target/release/rpmbuild/RPMS/`

### Contributions welcome
There are several areas in which still some work has to be done and where
contributions are very welcome:

* **Linux packages**: VpnCloud is stable enough to be packaged for Linux
  distributions. Maintainers who want to package VpnCloud are very welcome.
* **Security review**: The security has been implemented with strong security
  primitives but it would be great if a cryptography expert could verify the
  system.
* **Feedback on use cases**: Some feedback on how VpnCloud is being used and
  maybe some tutorials covering common use cases would be nice.


### Semantic Versioning
This project uses [semantic versioning](http://semver.org).